Total Album Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A year ago, nobody knew who One Direction was. Coming off of the UK’s X-Factor, the group, consisting of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, sought to make it big in the U.S.

Although their most popular hit, “What Makes You Beautiful,” dominated radio airwaves and launched the five to super stardom, their longevity was questioned. With their new album “Take Me Home,” One Direction now proves that they aren’t a one-hit wonder.

Transitioning from one band member’s vocals to another’s assured all five equal singing time.  This resulted in the tracks ranging from slow and romantic songs to fun and fast ones. The best songs from the album are “Little Things,” “I Would,” and “They Don’t Know About Us.” These three songs showcase the talent of all the members. Touching lyrics, sure to make their fans swoon, also play a huge part in making the tunes great. Even though all the best songs were slow, their most recent hits, “Live While We’re Young” and “Rock Me,” were among the great upbeat tracks that make you want to get up and dance.

“C’mon, C’mon” and “Summer Love” supplied mediocre lyrics and beats that didn’t make much of an impression, making them the worst on the CD. In conclusion, One Direction has provided a good album that will delight many in the U.S.

Below is my rating for the songs:

“Live While We’re Young”- 4 stars

“Kiss You”- 3.5 stars

“Little Things”- 4.5 stars

“C’mon, C’mon” – 3 stars

“Last First Kiss”- 4 stars

“Heart Attack”- 3.5 stars

“Rock Me”- 4 stars

“Change My Mind”- 3.5 stars

“I Would”- 4.5 stars

“Over Again”- 4 stars

“Back For You”- 3.5 stars

“They Don’t Know About Us” – 4.5 stars

“Summer Love” – 3 stars

“She’s Not Afraid” (Deluxe version only) – 4 stars

“Loved You First” (Deluxe version only) – 4 stars

“Nobody Compares” (Deluxe version only) – 4 stars

“Still the One” (Deluxe version only) – 4 stars

Lauren Fabiszak is an In-Depth Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.